Kitchen Manager

Term Time Only + 4 Days | Starting November 2026

Do you love creating great food and leading a team?

Are you an experienced catering professional looking for a role where your food makes a real difference every day?

Blue Arrow Luton are currently recruiting for an enthusiastic and talented Kitchen Manager to lead our busy school kitchen, serving nutritious, high-quality meals to hundreds of children and staff each day. This is a fantastic opportunity to combine your passion for food, leadership and organisation within a supportive and welcoming school community.

Why Join Us?

The school is a thriving and popular three-form entry primary school located on the Hertfordshire/Luton border. We are proud of our positive culture, excellent facilities and dedicated staff team, all working together to help children achieve their full potential.

When you join us, you'll benefit from:

A friendly and supportive team environment

An experienced leadership team and governing body

The opportunity to shape menus and introduce creative food ideas

School holidays off

A rewarding role where you can make a genuine impact on children's well being and healthy eating habits

About the Role

As Kitchen Manager, you'll take ownership of our catering operation, leading a small kitchen team and ensuring every meal is prepared and served to the highest standards. You'll be responsible for menu planning, food preparation, stock control, budget management, food safety compliance and staff supervision.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading and motivating the kitchen team
Planning healthy, nutritious and appealing menus
Preparing and serving meals for up to 450+ pupils and staff
Managing food orders, suppliers and stock levels
Controlling budgets and monitoring expenditure
Ensuring excellent food hygiene and health & safety standards
Supporting themed menus and special school events
Maintaining accurate catering records and reports
Training and developing kitchen staff

What We're Looking For

We're keen to hear from candidates who have:

A Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate (or equivalent)
Experience within large-scale catering, hospitality or food service operations
Previous kitchen management or supervisory experience
Strong organisational and budget management skills
A passion for delivering high-quality food and customer service
Excellent leadership and communication skills
Knowledge of food safety legislation, allergens and menu planning
Confidence using online systems for ordering and administration

Desirable Experience

Previous experience working within a school environment
Experience planning themed menus and special events
Catering qualifications such as NVQ, City & Guilds or equivalent
Experience working with children or educational settings

The Difference You'll Make

School meals play an important role in children's health, well being and learning. As our Kitchen Manager, you'll have the opportunity to influence eating habits, create exciting menus and provide a positive dining experience that children look forward to every day.

Safeguarding

Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check and references.